Incandescent-lamp socket



(N0 Model.)

G. W. HUNT 82; A. E. RICH.

INGAND'ESOENT LAMP SOCKET. No. 442,287. Patented Dec.9,1890.

WITNESSES:

WMJQM I In: Name MYERS cc., Wom-uwm, msumewu. u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE V. HUNT AND ALBERT E. RICH, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

lNCANDESCENT-LAMP SOCKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 442,287, dated December 9, 1890.

Application filed October 29, 1890. fierial No. 369,672. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE "W. IIUNT and ALBERT E. RICH, citizens of the United States, residing in Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Incandescent-Lamp Sockets, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to an improvement in incandescent-lamp sockets or cut-outs.

Its object is to provide a cut-out which shall be simple in construction and operation, with but few working parts, and which shall always maintain and establish good electrical connection when the lamp is in operation.

The invention consists, first, in a peculiarlyconstructed spring'contact which is adapted to engage with the Well-known ring-contact in the base of the lamp, and, second, in the location and construction of another springcontact whereby the greatest delicacy and d urability are obtained in a spring located in the confined space of a lamp-socket.

\Ve will now proceed to describe ourinvention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 represents a side view of an incandescent electric lamp and its socket. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the same, the lamp and socket being separated. Fig. 3 is a side view of the working parts of the socket detached from the socket-case. Fig. 4. is a view of the opposite side of the same. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan, and Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a detail.

A represents an ordinary incandescent lamp, in the base or lower end of which is fitted a flat metallic annulus or ring a, forming one of the terminals of the lamp filament, and also the screw-threaded socket a, forming the other terminal of the lamp filament.

B represents the case containing the working parts of the socket. These consist of a supporting-frame b, of insulating material, preferably fiber, and made in the form of a disk, Fig. 1, having a fiat projection 2 upon one side. This projection has an opening in which is placed a rotary tumbler b mounted loosely upon a key-shaft U, which latter is mounted in bearings in the part 2. The construction of this tumbler is best shown in Fig. 6, where it is seen that it consists of a fiat portion carrying a disk at one end. A small sector is cut out to accommodate a pin connecting with and radiating from the keyshaft and permitting a certain limited movement of the tumbler independent of the keyshaft.

0 represents a U-shaped spring, one of its legs being secured centrally to the disk 1 and within the opening I). From its point of connection it extends across one side of the disk nearly to the case B. Thence it bends and returns through the opening Z), and extending somewhat beyond it. Its legs, therefore, embrace the tumbler. The function of the tumbler is to throw the upper leg of the spring against a metallic bracket f and to force it to make a sliding or rubbing contact therewith. This is accomplished by giving to the upper leg of the spring a compound curve, as shown in Fig. 2. hen the tumbler strikes the bend in the spring, it tends to drag it back ward and thus slide it along the bracket f. It will be observed that we have taken advantage of all the favorable space within the socket-case to lengthen this spring. It therefore is very sensitive and resilient, and will remain so for a great length of time. The bracket f is secured to the extension 2 by means of a screw and a pin, as shown by Fig. 4. This spring 0 is secured at the point n1entioned by the central screw-pin c, which extends through the disk and serves to hold the lamp and its socket together by engaging with the threaded socket ct in the lamp.

9 represents a strip of metal, secured to the extension 2 of the opposite side from the bracket f by means of screw g, and which extends down the side of the said extension through a slit 9 in the diskl, and thence is bent sharply and passes around the under side of disk 1 in the form of an annulus having a free end F. The annular portion of the strip is made sinuous or wavy in form, in order to make a spring. It is concentric with the pin 0' and of the same diameter as the annulus a on the base of the lamp, with which it is adapted to engage.

Now when the lamp-base is inserted into the socket the operation is to register the pin 0 with the socket a. Then turn the lamp until the annulus a comes in contact with the strip 9 at which time the circuit through the Now itsometimes happens that dirt or a foreign substance of some kind gets into the socket a and fills it to such an extent that the pin does not go entirely to the bottom of the socket, in which case, if the contact g were a fiat ring against the face of the disk 1, the two rings a and g would not come together and the circuit would not be completed; but in the present case, owing to the shape of the contact 9 it stands at some distance from the face of the disk, and the c011- tact is actually made before the pin reaches the bottom of the socket. Hence any small quantity of dirt in the socket to would not interfere with the contact between the rings. Again, in lamps where the pin 0 is threaded the sinuous ri'ng g is a particular advantage,- inasmuch as the surfaces of the rings are scraped for a considerable time before the pin reaches the bottom of the socket. If this pin were a smooth one, as in some lamps, the scraping would not take place. In Fig. 3 it will be observed that the edge of the strip 9 comes very close to the edge of the spring 0,

thus making it possible for a spark to pass between these parts. Ve obviate this, however, by coating the upper surface of the spring 0 with insulating material, as shown at 'i in Fig. 2.

Having thus described our invention, We claim 1. The combination, with an incandescent lamp having a screw-threaded socket in its base and a flat concentric contact-ring, of a socket having a threaded pin adapted to engage said threaded socket, and a sinuous concentric contact-1 in g, for the purpose set forth.

2. In an incandescent-lamp socket, the sinnous contacting annulus having the tail-piece described, in combination with the frame of insulating material having a disk 1 and extension 2, the former slitted to receive the said tail-piece and the latter supporting the same, in the manner set forth.-

8. The combination, with the frame of insulating material provided with the opening I), of the U-shaped spring 0, secured at one end, and leading thence to the sideof the socket, then bending backward and passing through and beyond said opening, and a contact -piece f, arranged to make connection with the free end of the said spring, substantially as described.

In witness whereof We have hereunto signed our names in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE XV. HUN". ALBERT E. RICH.

\Vitnesses:

HENRY L. THORNE, EDWARD WAGNER. 

